Communications Network Engineering Intern

MITRE; McLean (VA); On-site; USD 47,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

MITRE is seeking an intern in the Intelligent Network Services department to work on complex network challenges vital to national well-being. You will engage in hands-on work across network design, automation, AI-enabled infrastructure, and service management, under experienced engineers’ guidance.

The role emphasizes design-to-implementation activities, routing, security, and collaboration across teams. You will gain exposure to modern data center concepts, cloud, and automation tools while

Qualifications

• Pursuing a degree in computer science, computer information systems, cybersecurity, computer engineering, or a related field and remaining enrolled full-time the semester after the internship.
• U.S. citizen per government requirements for security clearance.
• Minimum of 4 days on-site.
• Proven academic excellence in related fields.
• Experience or coursework in networking or software development.

Responsibilities

• Engage in hands-on, mission-driven work under guidance of engineers across network design and service management.
• Assist with design, prototyping, implementation and assessment of networking and digital service management solutions.
• Contribute to network design strategy, routing/switching, DNS/DHCP, load balancing, VPNs, firewalls, and Zero Trust.
• Support ITSM initiatives and use ServiceNow to optimize service delivery processes.
• Conduct cybersecurity risk analyses and propose mitigations and trade-offs.
• Prepare technical reports, briefings, and demonstrations for sponsors and teams.
• Participate in internal MITRE technical exchange events on networking trends.

Skills

Network Engineering

Software Development

Communication

Team collaboration

Security awareness

Education

Full-time student in CS/CE/Cybersecurity

Tools

ServiceNow

Ansible

Terraform

PowerShell

Bash

Kubernetes

AWS/Azure/Google Cloud

Job description

At MITRE, your passion fuels work that impacts our nation and improves lives. This is where your skills strengthen national security, cybersecurity, health, transportation, and citizen services. We’re a nonprofit engineering, applied research, and advanced technology organization working in the public interest. With objectivity and integrity at our core, we lead federally funded research and development centers for U.S. government agencies – collaborating with industry and academia to deliver integrated, high-impact solutions that advance our nation’s health, security, and prosperity. Our people tackle the toughest technical challenges, supported by competitive benefits, meaningful career development, and a culture of innovation, collaboration, and technical excellence. Choose MITRE for a career with purpose — and help shape the future.

The Intelligent Network Services department (L614) within MITRE Technology and Engineering specializes in complex network challenges vital to national well‑being. Our work involves researching, developing, and applying advanced technologies in core areas such as:

• Enterprise Network Engineering
• Network Security
• Network Modeling and Simulation
• IT Service Management (ITSM)
• Infrastructure Virtualization and Containerization
• Software Development

Job Responsibilities

As an intern, you will engage in hands‑on, mission‑driven work under the guidance of experienced engineers. Responsibilities encompass the full lifecycle — from design and prototyping to implementation and assessment — of networking and digital service management solutions. Interns are expected to participate in the following core activities:

• Network Design & Strategy: Partner with teams to create technical architecture, frameworks, and artifacts covering network and service management domains.
• Network Implementation & Validation: Configure and validate core network services and policies —including routing/switching, DNS/DHCP, load balancing, VPNs, firewall/ACLs, and Zero Trust —in diverse environments, emphasizing deployment automation.
• AI‑enabled Infrastructure: Perform as‑is, to‑be, and gap analyses to design and implement AI‑enabled infrastructure across data centers, cloud, and on‑premises environments.
• Service Improvement: Utilize IT Service Management principles and tools such as ServiceNow, to optimize service delivery processes.
• Risk Analysis: Conduct cybersecurity risk analysis on proposed designs, evaluate security postures, and recommend mitigation strategies and trade‑offs.
• Technical Reporting: Clearly articulate technical findings, methodologies, and project outcomes via written reports, briefings, and demonstrations for sponsors and internal teams.
• Knowledge Sharing: Actively participate in internal MITRE technical exchange events focusing on emerging trends in networking and digital transformation.

Basic Qualifications

• Knowledge or applicable internship(s) in the fields of Network Engineering, and/or Software Development.
• Per the U.S. Government ’s eligibility requirements, you must be a U.S Citizen to be considered for a security clearance.
• This position requires a minimum of 4 days on‑site.
• Sustained excellence in academic performance
• Must be a student enrolled full‑time in an accredited degree‑seeking program in computer science, computer information systems, cybersecurity, computer engineering, electrical engineering or a related degree and continue to be enrolled full‑time the semester following the internship.

Preferred Qualifications

• Certification: CCNA, CCNP
• Networking Knowledge: Foundational knowledge of network and network security fundamentals including IPv4/IPv6, LAN/WAN, routing, switching, firewalls, access control, VPN and Zero Trust.
• Datacenter Knowledge: Familiarity with the full lifecycle of data centers, encompassing design, operations, consolidations, and migrations; including physical infrastructure (cabling, power, and cooling) and the digital infrastructure (servers, storage, workstations, routers, switches, firewalls, and data/voice/video networks). Experience should also include modern paradigms like Software‑Defined Data Centers (SDDC), hyperconverged infrastructure, edge computing, and AI‑enabled Infrastructure.
• Cloud & Virtualization: Familiarity with cloud, virtualization, containerization, and Kubernetes technologies, encompassing compute, storage, and networking across cloud environments (e.g., AWS, Azure, Google Cloud).
• Software Development & Automation: Software engineering experience using languages like C++, Python, and JavaScript. Experience with scripting and automation tools such as Ansible, Terraform, PowerShell, and Bash.
• Digital Services and ITSM: Familiarity with Digital Services, IT Service Management (ITSM) concepts, and the ServiceNow platform.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• An ability to work in both individual and team settings.

This requisition requires the candidate to have a minimum of the following clearance(s):

None

This requisition requires the hired candidate to have or obtain, within one year from the date of hire, the following clearance(s):

None

Salary compensation range and midpoint:

$46,500 - $58,000 - $69,500 Annual

Work Location Type:

Onsite

It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Commitment to Non-Discrimination

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to disability, status as a protected veteran or any other status protected by applicable federal, state, local or international law.

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